Method of operating a terminal

1. A restaurant transaction terminal comprising: a portable housing for hand held operation, the portable housing having a body, a touch screen, a card reader, a stylus, a speaker, a microphone, and a jack for a headset or Bluetooth headset; an internal battery for making the restaurant transaction terminal independent of any wired connectivity; a biometric reader for a customer and restaurant personnel for reading data from an information bearing medium carried by a customer; a graphic user interface (GUI); a printer integral with the housing; and, wherein the transaction terminal is configured for use at a restaurant table by a customer based on information read from the reader within the restaurant for reading, completing, signing on the QUI a displayed bill; printing the completed and signed bill by the customer at the restaurant table and wirelessly transmitting the completed and signed bill to the restaurant such that customers may pay their bill without interaction with a store employee.

2. A transaction terminal in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the restaurant transaction terminal is configured to read at least one of the following: a magnetic card; a smart card; a hybrid magnetic stripe smart card; biometric information; an optical symbology; and a RFID device.

3. A transaction terminal in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the customer places an order and updates the order on the GUI or checks the meal progress by the wireless connection; the transaction terminal accepts an order from the customer and updates the order on the GUI or facilitates the customer in monitoring the progress of the meal by the wireless connection.

4. A transaction terminal in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the GUI displays daily specials for the customer and/or shows order details.

5. A transaction terminal in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the transaction terminal comprises at least one of the following: a speaker, a microphone, and a Bluetooth headset utilized to communicate with the restaurant for such things as changing orders and requesting assistance.

6. A method of operating a terminal for use by a customer for paying a bill a restaurant table, the transaction terminal being hand held portable and having a housing, a graphic user interface (GUI), a printer integral with the housing, an internal battery adapted to making the restaurant transaction terminal independent of any wired connectivity, and a biometric reader, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining personal identification information using a biometric reader at a restaurant table; and, reading, completing, signing on the GUI a displayed bill including the option for adding a tip, the step of signing using a stylus; pressing an accept key upon completing payment and printing the completed and signed bill by the customer at the restaurant table and wirelessly transmitting the completed and signed bill to the restaurant such that customers may pay their bill without interaction with a store employee.

7. A method of operating a transaction terminal in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the terminal is configured to read at least one of the following: a magnetic card; a smart card; a hybrid magnetic stripe smart card; biometric device; an optical symbology; and a RFID device.